‘Locker’ pair’s project key to skeds

Casting for duo's next pic causes ripple effects

While a handful of high-profile actors being interested in the same movie is nothing new, what is becoming more apparent is the effect certain casting decisions are having on other upcoming projects.

After “The Hurt Locker,” it’s not surprising that actors want to work with Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal on their next project, but even for jaded Hollywood, the roster of actors they’ve been meeting with is impressive. Will Smith, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Christian Bale, Javier Bardem and Jake Gyllenhaal have either asked Bigelow and Boal for a look at the script or taken meetings to discuss the film.

That’s in addition to Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp, who are also interested in the project, “Triple Frontier.” Since there are four lead roles, there could be various powerhouse combinations. And since many of these thesps are planning other films, the casting could create a ripple effect on a platoon of projects.

But don’t hit the panic button yet. As one agent reminds, “It’s such a fragile business right now that until you are on a set and shooting, nothing is real.”

Depp is attached to “Dark Shadows” and “The Lone Ranger”; Damon is onboard for “We Bought a Zoo” and a Robert Kennedy biopic; and there are a slew of films on DiCaprio’s plate, including “Hoover,” with Clint Eastwood set to helm.

“Decisions like these can completely flip the city upside down,” one rep said. “It’s not just because these actors are among the few who can greenlight certain films — it’s also because any actor might be willing to pull out of a movie for the chance to work with Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks in the same film.”

On the other hand, that casting is hardly set in stone.

“Triple Frontier” is set in the border zone of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil where the Iguazu and Parana rivers converge, a haven for organized crime. Paramount is distribbing.

Other films currently casting could similarly cause ripple effects.

Alfonso Cuaron’s search to find the femme lead for 3D space pic “Gravity” had a number of names circling the role including Natalie Portman and Angelina Jolie.

The part was eventually offered to Sandra Bullock, who is in talks, but the uncertainty threatened to cause more upheavals.

And Tom Hardy, whose star has been rising after perfs in “Bronson” and “Inception,” may reteam with Christopher Nolan in the untitled Batman movie.

While a Batman role may be hard to turn down, Hardy was set to play Mad Max in “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which will now be pushed back until Hardy’s schedule has freed up.